Extraction of potassium compounds from feldspar.



AU'RE'LIUS rswAYzE, OF GREAT MEADOWS, NEW JERSEY.

' EXTRACTION or POTASSIUM oomr'ormns FROM s sLDs'PAn.

Specification of 'Letters Patent.

Patented. Aug. 6, 1907.

- applicationfiled natu es. r906. sum No. 507,695.

- To all whom it mag concern: v

. Be it known that I, AU'REL ps J.- SWAYZE, a citizen of the United States, -residing,at Great Meadows, in

the county of Warren and Stateof New Jersey, have 1 invented certain new; and useful Improvements in Processes of Treating Iiieldspar, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein to-the accompanying drawing.- I

This invention provides a process of expeditiously treating feldspar-whereby it is rendered readily dec'om'posable and silica, alumina, and potash maybe separated therefrom; I Potash-feldspar'in the naturally crystalline form as orthoclase is insolubleior but slightly soluble in solu-.

.' tionsT-of canstic alkali. However when feldspar (orthoc lase) is highly heated in the form of a'coarse powder or small particles, it is converted 'into an amorphous state, and it is' then capable of being decomposed by a solution of a compound of potassium at a or high temperature. I have also found that the amorphous feldspar is more readily decomposed in a solution of a potassium compound under pressure.

In performing my process, the orthoclase feldspar alone is crushed or reduced to small particles or a coarse powder.. The material is next heated on the bed o f a'furfiace, or'in any other suitable manner,. until the feldspar is converted from a crystalline to an amorphous state. The amorphous feldspar is'next transferred to a boiler, or other suitable closed vessel, and mixed with a solution of a compound of potassium,

preferably with an aqueous solution of caustic potash, the so'lutionbeing of specific gravity of about one and two or three tenths. v The mixture is then heated suffici'ently topieduce and maintain a high pressure in A the'vessel, and the heating continued until-the solution attains a specific gravity of about one and seventenths,. ivhen it is saturated with the decomposed feldspar; The solution is next withdrawn from the vessel, and the elements separated by means well' knowntothe artl i Soluble potassium silicat'eand aluminateare pros} -ent in the solution, andsilica, alumina, and carbonate of potash are easily recoverable therefrom for commercial purposes, and the carbonate being also available for conversion to hydrate susceptible of use in the performance of this process. I

as new,'and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1; The process-f treatingfel'dsp ar which comprises the application of heat tothe feldspar until'it is converted from a crystalline to-anamorphous condition, and decomposing the amorphous feldspar in an alkaline solution of a compound of potassium.

2. The process of treating feldspar which comprises the application of heat to the feldspar in :1 crushed state until it-is converted from n crystalline to an amorphous condition. and decomposing the amorphous feldspar in a solu tion of caustic potash.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim V 3. The process of treating feldsparwvhich comprises thc' application of heat to the feldspur in a crushed state until it is converted from a crystalline to an amorphous condition; mixing the amorphous feldspar with a strong solution of caustic potash, and heating the mixture under pressure in a closed vessel. I

4. The process of treating feldspar which comprises the application of heat to the feldspar alone until it is conrerted from a crystalline to an amorphous condition, and decomposing the amorphous feidspur'in :in alkaline solution of :1 compound of potzissium.

5. The process of treating feldspar which comprises the application of heat to the feldspar. alone until it is converted from a crystalline to an amorphous condition, and forming a solution containing potassium silicate and aluminate by heating the feldspar in an alkaline solution,

condltionpmi xing the amorphous feldspar with a strong solut ion oi' caustic potash, and forming'a solution oi."

potiissinm silicate and aluminnte by heating the mixture funder pressure in a closed vessel.

Intestimony whereof i aflismysignature in presence of'two witnesses. v

' Alumnus J. swsrzn Witnesses w Jo 'msox R. l iwnnurimr, VIRGIN A Swarzrg. 

